Forbidden City Tickets Booking

Treasure Gallery (Zhenbaoguan)

Forbidden City Tickets Booking
The Treasure Gallery (Zhenbaoguan), located in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity Area (Ningshougong) to the east of the Clock and Watch Gallery in the Forbidden City, showcases over 400 royal treasures selected from over 1.8 million pieces in the Forbidden City's collection, including jewels, gold, silver, jade etc. 
 

Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Huangjidian)


Upon passing through the Gates of Imperial Supremacy and Tranquil Longevity, visitors can begin their treasure-hunt by turning right into the eastern corridor entrance of the Hall of Imperial Supremacy.
 

Jewelry Exhibition Area (Southeast)


This area displays Ming and Qing dynasty (1368~1911) jewelry accessories and gem-inlaid artifacts, featuring colorful minerals like jadeite and lapis lazuli, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires influenced by Western aesthetics. 
 
Empress Xiaoduan's Phoenix Crown Empress Headgear Enamel Bowl Inlaid with Rubies
Empress Xiaoduan's Phoenix Crown Empress Headgear Gem-inlaid Enamel Bowl


 Must-see Exhibit: Empress Xiaoduan's Phoenix Crown, 1573~1620

This stunning phoenix crown, 35.5 cm (14 inches) tall and 20 cm (8 inches) wide, weighs 2.95 kg (6.5 pounds), and elegantly unfurls like a fan. It’s adorned with over 100 natural rubies, 5,000 pearls, intricate kingfisher feather patterns, and 18 gemstone-inlaid plum blossoms. Designed for grand ceremonies, it underscores the noble status of the empress.
 

Gold and Silver Exhibition Area (Northeast)

 
Pearl-inlaid Gold Celestial Globe 60 Gold S-shaped Scepters Gold Exhibits
Pearl-inlaid Gold Celestial Globe 60 Gold S-shaped Scepters Gold Exhibits

This exhibition area showcases gold and silver artifacts, including ceremonial and practical utensils, religious relics, and decorative items. Displayed on red-backed cabinets, the exhibits sparkle with royal dignity and extravagance.

 Must-see Exhibit: Everlasting Solidarity Gold Cup, 1736-1796
 
Everlasting Solidarity Gold Cup
Everlasting Solidarity Gold Cup

Crafted from pure gold, the cup stands 12.5 cm (5 inches) tall with an 8 cm (3.15 inches) diameter, featuring intricate floral patterns adorned with pearls and vibrant sapphires. Two dragons serve as handles, their heads adorned with shimmering pearls like dragon eyes. And its unique elephant-trunk-footed design makes it a one-of-a-kind emperor’s drinking cup from the Forbidden City.
 

Jade Exhibition Area (Northwest)

 
Large Jade Carving Jade Flower Holder Crystal Cup
Large Jade Carving Jade Flower Holder Crystal Cup

Visitors in this area will be greeted by precious jade artifacts, sourcing from Hetian jade from Xinjiang, jadeite, agate, and crystal. 

 Must-see Exhibit: Jade Mountain with Ladies in the Shade of Paulownia

Crafted from pristine white jade, the 25 cm (10 in) tall masterpiece shows a serene courtyard with banana plants, paulownia trees, and greenery. A lady stands at the gate, while another lady peers through the door gap holding a ruyi scepter, adding a touch of life interest. 

Originally scraps for a jade bowl, craftsman Wu skillfully carved them into this piece, transforming cracks into the door gap, letting light pass through. It's a true waste-to-treasure masterpiece.
 

Bonsai Exhibition Area (Southwest)

 
Red Coral Bonsai
Red Coral Bonsai
Jewelry & Red Coral Bonsai
Jewelry & Red Coral Bonsai

This area features lifelike gemstone bonsais crafted from gold, silver, jewels, jade, coral, and ivory, which were emblematic of Qing royals’ luxurious lifestyles. 

 Must-see Exhibit: Ruby Plum Tree Bonsai, 1662~1795

A dazzling gilded basin, intricately engraved with swastikas and the character for "longevity" (壽) holds this masterpiece. The plum blossoms, crafted from 284 rubies and emerald-green jade leaves.

The basin centers on a gold-plated copper plum tree trunk, adorned with jade leaves, ruby petals, sapphire hearts, and gold stamens. Below, lapis lazuli, white jade, jade-leaf and coral-bead plants, agate camellias, and grasses are meticulously arranged.

In Qing Dynasty, plum blossoms symbolized "perpetual youth and longevity". This bonsai, crafted for imperial birthdays, perfectly encapsulates this theme.
 

Palace of Tranquil Longevity (Main Hall)


Emperor Qianlong intended the Palace of Tranquil Longevity’s main hall as his retirement home, but never lived there. Later, Empress Dowager Cixi resided here, and now the main hall houses the Stone Drum Gallery.
 

Stone Drum Gallery (Shiguguan)

 
Stone Drum
Stone Drum
Stone Drum Gallery
Stone Drum Gallery

The Gallery preserves 10 drums discovered in 820, which have survived wars and migrations to reach the Forbidden City. These drums date back to the 2nd century BC, recording First Emperor of Qin (259~210 BC) hunting activities and possessing significant cultural value, despite wear and tear over time.
 

Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshoutang)

 
Jade Mountain Sculpture, Hall of Joyful Longevity
Jade Mountain Sculpture, Hall of Joyful Longevity

Constructed by Emperor Qianlong in 1778 for his mother, and later used as his retirement home, the Hall features luxurious interiors adorned with jade, enamel, and precious woods. Today, it retains its original state from Empress Dowager Cixi's time, while other rooms display huge jade carvings.

 Highlight: Jade Mountain Sculpture Depicting Yu the Great's Flood Control Efforts, 1736~1796
 
Yu the Great's Flood Control Efforts Jade Sculpture
Yu the Great's Flood Control Efforts Jade Sculpture

This 24-cm (9.6-inch) tall, 96-cm (37.8-inch) wide jade carving, with a 60-cm (23.6-inch) base and weighing 5,000 kg (1,023 pounds), is China's largest ancient jade sculpture. It depicts mountains, waterfalls, trees, caves, and people fighting with floods on cliffs, narrating the story of Yu the Great, who spent 13 years controlling the floods in the Yellow River (China’s second major river) basin about 4,000 years ago.
 

Travel Tips

 

1. Opening Hours of the Treasure Gallery

 
November 1 - March 31 April 1 - October 31
Entry Begins 8:30 8:30
Ticket Check Ends 15:30 16:00
Last Entry 15:40 16:10
Closing Time 16:30 17:00
 

2. Extra Ticket for the Treasure Gallery

 
Treasure Gallery, Forbidden City
Treasure Gallery, Forbidden City
 
To visit the Treasure Gallery, you need to purchase both the Forbidden City ticket (60 yuan) and the additional Treasure Gallery ticket (10 yuan).
 

3. Other Attractions within the Palace of Tranquility and Longevity Area

 
Hall of Spiritual Cultivation
Hall of Spiritual Cultivation
Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony
Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony
 
Except for the exhibits, of the Treasure Gallery, the Palace of Tranquility and Longevity Area welcomes visitors with open structures, like the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation (Yangxingdian), and the Belvedere of Well-Nourished Harmony (Yihexuan), displayed in their original state, along with other historical sites including the Qianlong Garden, the Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds and Hall for Viewing Opera. Also within this area lies the tragic Well of Consort Pearl (Zhenfeijing).
 

 Next: 

Go further west back to the central axis, visit the Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan), or exit the Forbidden City through the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen).

 Further Reading:
How to visit the Forbidden City
Hindustan Jade Bowl in Treasure Gallery of Forbidden City
- Last updated on Jul. 04, 2025 by Jally Zhang -